Circuit interrupter



3 Sheets-Sheet 1,

6 25 INVENTORS J'amesMh/a/lace and flanker/Z z arv lh. BY 11 E f q ATTORNEY J. M. WALLACE ETAL CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Original Filed Jan. 16, 1941 WITNESSES:

Dec. 16, 1952' Dec. 16, 1952 J. M. WALLACE ETAL CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Original Filed Jan. 16, 1 941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 James M Mal/ace and H rber/ EaW/in AT ORNEY Dec. 16, 1952 J. M. WALLACE ET AL CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Original Filed Jan. 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS JamesMA/a/laceand I Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE CIRCUIT'IN'EERR'UPTER' James 'M. 'wau'aee, iBraddock, and Herbert iRawlins',Wilkiiis'biirg, Pa., assignors to West'- inghouse El'eotricffiorporation, EastPittsburgh;

Pm; a" corporation of Pennsylvania -originat-application.January 16, 1941, Serial-N0. 374,686; Divided-and this application October 18', 1945,..S'erialNo. 623,125

This invention relates generally to ci'rcuit interrupters; and more "specificaliy to "operating mechanismand controlymeans' for circuit interrupters; p

This application is a j division of applicants copending applicationSeriaLNo; 374385; filed January 16;"1941, now Patent"No.'2,475;765; July' 12, 1949, on Circuit Interrupters.

Although this invention is herein specifically disclosed inconnectionwith an automaticreclosing 'circuit breaker capableof automatic lockout in response to a predetermined; numberofclose 1y successiveinterrupting"operations, "wherein the invention has certain novel features"of'--co operation "providing" certain new and useful re sults,-it-wi1l-be appreciated that certainfeatures oi the inventionmay-alsd be useful in connection With' other types ofcircuit breakers; and even apparatus other than-circuit breakers.

In order-to obtain hetter coordination withother breakers of the automatic reclosing' type, it is desirable that 'thebreaker have an inverse time characteristic, which"preierably shall be" the same for all 'trippings of the breaker. I

Accordingly; one object of this invention is to" provide nove1-means for .providing' an inverse time delay" tripping characteristic for a: circuit breaker.

Another object of this invention is "to provide'novel' trip controlimeans' ioran' automatic reclos'ing circuit breakerwrrhich'shall provide" the sametripping' characteristics on all trippings of the" breaker;

Another objectof "this invention islto' provide in a circuit breaker of the typefdescribed, novel mechanism for controlling the opening'and clos ing .movements of thebreaker;

Another object of this'invention is to provide in a breaker of thetype described; novel means for maintaining 'thebreaker. contacts separated in response to a predetermined number of closely successive 'reclosures' "thereof.

Another object of thisinvention isto provide novel means for 'delayingcircuit openinga'nd closing 'movements of an automatic .reclosing circuit breakerifor different times, respectively.

Another object of this invention is'to provide novel means for delaying circuit opening and closing movements of an automatic reclosing circuit' breaker with provision for rendering the delay means ineffective justpriorto separation andvengagement of the'breaker contacts, respec tively.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of "preferred embodiments thereof Wherrt'aken in connection with" the attached drawings," in' which:

Figure 1 is a-substantiallycentraklongitudinal' sectional View of a" circuit breaker embodyingthis invention.

rig. -2 is a view like Fig." 1- o y-s wmg ie position of the partsafter acircuit interrupting operation. '7 Fig; 3 is a" partial," substantially "central; j longit udinal section view of the ,breaker shown in Figs. l and 2; andtaken'substantially alt-right angles to the section of Figsgl and '2.

Fig. 4 is a'view'simflar'to'Fig. 1,-showing a"portion of the upper end oi" the' -breaker "with; the parts positioned to lock the'- breaker contacts open.

Fig; 5 'is a view of a modified form of inter:

rupter-operating' mechanism per se', with-certain parts-thereof insection. V v v Fig. 6 is a partial side elevational *view 1 ofthe mechanismsho'wnin' Fig. 5. v v

Fig; '7 is a partial elevational ;viewgof the mechani'smshown'in'Fig: 5, looking at*'theop- Fig. 8 Ban elevationa l"View;;partlyfin' section, of 'astill furthermodifiediorm of circuit breaker operating mechanism.

The several embodiments of this invention herein disclosedy are adapted-to be "mounted in an insulating casing :2 "havingan upper"termimakeover-assembly 4. and-a lower-terminal as sembly 6," whioh are substantiallyflike fthosje'fdisk closed 'in applicants? 'copentiing "application Serial-N 0. V 346 ,300fffi1d' J uly" 19; 194i); now Patent No. 2318;421; May 4,1943; and a'ssig'ned tolth'e same assigneefas'jthis invention. Accordingly; for a more complete description of these; parts,

andfor a' full understanding of .their'fun'ction, reference is hereby made to the iabove=mentioned copending application." I

i In "general; the. insulating housing 2 f is' 3 i; wi h larflor cylindrical inform,ahd isfprovi ed an open top and a closed bottom: Anginte'miea breaker operating mechanism; Theicover fi is also provided with a peripheral flange 1.0 Ladapt ed. to :be seated on the .open,endioffcasingul, and' securedto anann'ularlsupport l2 by'an'ydesired connecting means (not'shown) The lower terminal assembly 6 includes a bolt [4 of any desired conducting material, having an enlarged head [6 adapted to be positioned within casing 2, with packing material 18 between head l6 and the closed end of the casing. Conducting bolt I 4 extends through a substantially central aperture in the closed end of easing 2, and is provided with a nut 20 for securing the bolt in operative position, with a washer 22 interposed between the nut and outer wall of the casing. As shown, a terminal strap 26 may be secured to bolt [4, for example, as by nut 23. The bolt [4 is also provided with a small central bore 24, adapted to have the outer end thereof closed by a removable drain plug 25, so that the casing may be drained when desired.

The circuit breaker and its operating mechanism are adapted to be supported from cover 8 by a pair of spaced supporting plates 30, secured to a portion of cover flange l6 overlying the interior of easing 2, for example, as by bolts 32, and these plates are connected by transversely extending integral frame portions 34 and 36. Spaced supporting plates 46, positioned substantially at right angles to supporting plates 30, are formed integral with transverse frame portion 36 and extend downwardly therefrom to support an interrupting chamber 42. The lower ends of supporting plates 40 are rigidly secured together by an integral web 38, having a socket 46 integral therewith for threadedly receiving one end of insulating tube 44, forming the side wall of interrupting chamber 42. Insulation tube 44 may be of any desired insulating material, preferably fiber or the like. The other end of insulation tube 44 is provided with an end terminal cap 48 threadedly engaged therewith, and conductively and resiliently associated with the enlarged head 16 of the lower terminal assembly bolt, by coil compression spring 56. Spring 56 is preferably of a resilient conducting material, such for example, as a copper alloy.

It will be noted that the interrupting chamber is provided with an outlet valve 52 and an inlet valve 54, a, contact support 56 slidably mounted in a central aperture through transverse support frame member 38, together With a contact 58 mounted thereon, and a liquid director 60 having resilient lost motion with respect to contact 58. Thi interrupter chamber structure is substantially the same as that disclosed in the copending application of J. M. Wallace, Serial No. 374,684, filed January 16, 1941, and issued June 20, 1944, as Patent No. 2,352,048, assigned to the same assignee as this invention. The only difference in construction of the interrupter chamber of this invention over that disclosed in the copending application of J. M. Wallace, is that the contact support 56 is of insulation material for a purpose hereinafter to be described, and fixed contact 62 is mounted for limited relative movement with respect to end terminal cap 48, by a screw 64, secured to fixed contact 62 with the reduced intermediate portion thereof slidably extending through a central aperture in end cap .48, to provide for movement of contact 62 limited by the head of screw 64 and the contact itself, and normally biased upwardly by a coil compression spring 66 seated between end cap 48 and a shoulder formed on contact 62. Also, contact support 56 is formed with a notched portion 68 adjacent the upper end thereof for a purpose to be referred to.

In operation, interrupter 42 operates substantially in the same manner described in the copending application of J. M. Wallace. This, in general, is as follows: When contact support 56 is moved upwardly to open the circuit, contact 58 moves away from fixed contact 62, after the head of screw 64 engages the lower terminal cap 48, to draw an arc therebetween. As soon as upward motion of contact support 56 is initiated,

valve 52 moves therewith to close off the outlet of the interrupter casing. All this time liquid director 60 remains stationary, being held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the spring 6| between contact support 56 and the director. As soon as the limit of the lost motion between the contact and director 60 is reached, the contact will pick up the liquid director and move the same upwardly to thereby cause a stream of are extinguishing fluid to flow through the arc to aid in extinguishing the same. After the circuit has been interrupted and contact support 56 is moved downwardly to close the circuit, valve plate 52. will be moved therewith to open the chamber outlet, and check valve plate 54 will be raised to permit liquid to fiow in the chamber inlet under the influence of gravity. As the contact approaches closed position, liquid director 60 is first brought to a halt, and thereafter coil spring 6| is compressed and finally contact 58 engages fixed contact 62.

Contact support 56 is adapted to be disengaged by an elongated contact rod 16, having one end thereof threadedly engaged in a bore in the upper end of contact support 56, and the other end thereof threadedly secured in the lower end of a socket member 12, forming one element of a contact locking means. As shown, the socket 12 is hollow in form, and is provided with opposed slots through which are adapted to project the lockin projections 16, of a pair of locking dogs 14 pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a pin extending transversely of socket 12. The locking dogs 14 are proportioned so that the major portion of their mass lies on opposite sides, respectively, of a vertical plane through pivot 15, so that the dogs are biased by gravity to project in a position with respect to socket 12. The upper end of socket 12 is adapted to fit into a bore provided in a cooperating inverted locking socket 86, having opposed side apertures 18 for the reception of lock projection 16 on the locking dogs, to secure the two socket portions for movement together. It will be noted that the upper socket B6 is adapted to be slidably mounted in a sleeve 82 secured in a central aperture in upper transversely extending support plate 34. It will be further noted that in the closed position of the contacts, the locking projections 16 on the looking dogs, are adapted to extend through apertures T8 of the upper socket member, to lie beneath and in engagement with the lower end of sleeve 82 to thereby maintain the contacts locked in their closed circuit position.

The upper end of socket 8D is slotted to form bifurcations 84 for supporting therebetween an actuating pin 86. This pin is adapted to be engaged by a reclosing lever 88, pivotally supported as at 90 in the hollow portion of cover 8, and provided with a biasing spring 92 normally urging lever 88 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot, to close the breaker contacts. The outer end of reclosing lever 68 is inclined or curved to cooperate with the top of actuating pin 86. Biasing spring 92 also causes engagement of socket with looking dogs 14 at a point displaced from dog pivots 15 so as to assist in biasing them relatively outwardly.

acza ca 5, substantially. cylindrical, solenoid core- 94,01 any-.desired .magnetic material, is .adapted. to be slidably mounted at the lower endthereof oncontact .rod I0. The core94 is provided with an outwardly. projecting flange 96 at the lower end.

thereof, and with a counterbore 98 opening at theupper end thereof forthe reception of a coil spring. Iilll. A solenoid coil I02 is adaptedto be supported between the transversel extending is submerged in an arc extinguishing fluid which,

fills .contianer 2. substantially up to the level L, and. further in view of the fact that the upper end of cylinder sleeve IE4 is closed, it will be obvious that upon energization of solenoid coil I02 sufficiently to raise core 94, that this movement ofthecore will be retarded by the dashpot action formed by the core and cylindrical sleeve I04. In other words, when core 94 is drawn upwards by. solenoid coil I62, it is necessary that the liquidabove-the core in cylindrical sleeve I94 be forced. out of the lower end of sleeve I54 past the relatively small clearance between the core and sleeve I04, which'will necessarily delay the upward movement of core Hi4. This delayed action, of course, will be dependent upon the current. passing through solenoid coil I02, 50 that he desirable inverse time characteristic is ob" tained for. opening the breaker contacts.

Assolenoid core 94 is moved upwardly in a circuit interruptin operation, it will be obvious thatcontact rod and contact 58 are maintained stationary by lockingdogs I4, and that eventually in the upward movement of the core, coil spring I willengage the lower end of socket I2, so that upon continued upward movement of the corethis spring will be compressed. The upper end o fcore 94 will eventually engage the lower endof upper socket 80, to move the same upwardly relative to lowersocket l2 which is still,

held against upward movement by dogs It, so that the lower edges of apertures 'I8will eventually engage the outside edgesof dogs I4v to act to cam locking dogs14 inwardly, and permit contaotxrod'lil to be released. At this-point there will be'apositive drive connection between solenoid core 94' and contact rod Ill, and because of the compressed condition of coil spring I09 which is of'greater strength than contact closing-spring 92, the contact 58 will be moved relatively quickly away from fixed contact and this action'will'also be aided by any pressures developed by the are within interrupter chamber 42;, 'Itshould b'e' noted that the contacts separate "onlya predetermined time subsequent to theinitiation of movement of solenoid core 9 3, whichtime is'predetermined by the dashpot action ofthe core and cylindrical sleeve Hi4, and dependent'on the current through solenoidIdZ. This provides a time delay on tripping the breaker; which has been found experimentally to beas much as three seconds at minimum trip current values.

After the circuithas been interrupted, the contact rod "I0 is free to be moveddownwardly under the influence ofcontaot closing springl92, through l v r- 88 a t ng on pin,- 88., flowevergibetweeft spaced: supporting plates z4ll, adjacent: to: andrjust. above the interrupting chamber '42-, there'rare pivoted a pair of latch-levers I06 (Fig. 3),, on pivot pins 1 01' extending; between the supportingv plates-with each lever having aprojection I09 adapted to engage the notch 68 at .theupperendof contact support-56, to maintain the contacts open fora-predetermined time period.

The latch levers I06 are biased-to wards;-eachother to engage in notch 68 by a-ooiltensionspring I08, connecting the levers at one side thereof. Accordingly, it will beseen that the ;contact closing spring 92 will immediately moverthe contact rod downwardly to aposition wherein it is preventedfrom further movement by latch levers I06, andat this position the gap between contacts 58 and 62' will be suflicientto hold circuit,

voltage. Meanwhile, solenoid core 94 will-travel downwardly very slowly due to the; fact that-it. must draw oil into the space above it; as it; is-

the reclosure of the breaker contacts by: thedash pot action-of solenoid. core 94 incylindrical sleeve I04. Ithasbeen determined that sucha time delay in the reclosing operation may be made as long as ten to twelve'seconds.

It will beapparent from theforegoing that there is incorporated in-this embodiment of the invention asolenoid core which actsasoneelement of an inverse time current delay means for the circuitinterrupting operation, and also provides a delay between the interrupting operation. and reclosure of the breaker contacts. This em-- bodiment of the invention further includes the feature of locking the breaker-contactsin their. closed circuit position, so that upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions in the circuit, an operating means for the contacts is firstmoved relative theretoto provide timedelay in'the'interrupting operation and to stress a: resilient means for biasing the contacts open, and only thereafter releasing the contact lock to permit them to separate.

Theinner surface of transversely extending supporting plate 36 is provided witha-relatively large cylindrical portion III a-dapted to receive flange portion 96 on solenoid core 94 when the core is adjacent the upper end of its pathof movement. This cylindrical bore portion .I II is provided with a transverse outlet passage III connected to a .cylinder II2, integral with upper. and lower transverse supporting plates Hand 36, with a resiliently biased check valve- I I4 .controlling said passage to permit flow, of liquid from cylindrical bore III into cylinder H2. springIIE is provided for biasing valve vII4-to close passage I II),-and a free floating piston I I8 is 7. tively. The free end of lockout lever I 20 is curved and positioned below actuating pin 86. The coil spring I22 of the lock-out lever I20 is considerably stronger than the contact reclosing spring 92, but is normally prevented from effecting operation of the contacts by a shoulder portionl26 integral with lever I20, being engaged by one leg I28 of a trigger lever pivotally mounted on the cover as at I29, and having the other leg I30 extending downwardly and provided with an inclined free end positioned over the top of cylinder II2.

Now, when the solenoid core 94 is moved upwardly as was previously described, to interrupt the circuit, when it reaches the end of its upward movement, flange portion 96 will act as a piston in cylinder portion III and force a predetermined quantity of liquid through passage IIO, past check valve H4 and into cylinder I I2, thereby raising piston II8 a predetermined distance in the cylinder, for example to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Now, when the contacts are reclosed by contact closing spring 92, if the fault has been removed from the circuit, piston H6 will slowly return to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawing, under the influence of gravity, and being delayed by the necessity of displacing the liquid below the piston past the relatively small clearance between the piston H8 and cylinder II2. after the first reclosure of the breaker contacts the fault still remains on the circuit, the contacts will again be opened in the same manner as for the first time, and this time flange 96 will act to force another predetermined quantity of liquid into cylinder I I2 to advance piston IIB nearly to the top of cylinder II2. Upon a second closely successive reclosure of the breaker, if the fault has cleared by this time, the piston I I8 will again slowly move to its normal position shown in Fig. l of the drawings. However, in the event that the fault has not cleared from the circuit, the contacts will again reopen, and this time flange 96 on solenoid core 94 will force sufi'icient liquid into the cylinder II2 to raise the piston IIB into engagement with the inclined end of trigger lever I30, to rotate this lever in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot I29, to release lockout lever I20 for movement in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of its spring I22, and cause it to raise contact rod I against the bias of contact closing spring 92, as shown in Fig. 4, and thereby prevent further reclosures of the breaker contacts.

In order to reset the circuit breaker, it is necessary to exert a manual push on lever I32 to rotate it and lock-out lever I20 in a clockwise direction, until shoulder I26 on the look-out lever is reengaged by leg I26 of the trigger lever. Inasmuch as piston H8 will have in the interim descended from the position shown in Fig. 4 to its normal position shown in Fig. 1, the contacts may then be closed by reclosing spring 92 and thereby restored to normal operating condition.

The electrical circuit through the breaker may be traced from lower terminal assembly 6, to coil spring 50, lower interrupter casing terminal cap 48, fixed contact 62, movable contact 58 to a conductor I3I extending upwardly through a bore I33 provided off center through contact support 56 to one lead of solenoid coil I02. The other lead of solenoid coil I02 is adapted to be connected by a conductor I31 to cover 8, for example, as by bolt 32, and the other terminal of the breaker is adapted to be suitably mounted on However, if

cover 6. It can, therefore, be seen that with this construction the solenoid coil I02 is connected in series relation in the circuit through the breaker, so as to be responsive to overload currents to cause movement of core 94 to interrupt the circuit.

Coordination between breakers of different ratings is readily obtainable with this device. In order to have different ratings of breakers, a different number of turns is wound for solenoid coil I02. Thus, for example, for a ZO-ampere breaker approximately 250 turns may be required for the solenoid coil, while for a ill-ampere breaker only turns may be required. Considering now a fault current flowing through the two breakers in series on a line; it will be obvious that twice as many ampere turns will be available for moving the solenoid core 94 in the 20-ampere breaker than in the ill-ampere breaker. Consequently, the core of the 20-ampere breaker will move much faster, so that this breaker will be tripped and clear the circuit before the solenoid core in the 40-ampere breaker can complete its stroke. The solenoid core in the larger breaker will therefore cease its upward travel and both solenoid cores will start to reset. Inasmuch as the breaker of a larger rating will have had the shorter core travel, its core will completely reset before the contacts of the smaller breaker are reclosed to subject the two breakers to overload current again. Accordingly, it can be seen that the larger rating breaker will never trip under the circumstances described above, and the smaller breaker will lock out and isolate the faulted circuit.

While certain of the features of the breaker illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 are employed in the breakers shown in Figs. 5 to 7, other features peculiar to the breakers shown in Figs. 1 to 4 are not claimed herein but are claimed in applicants previously mentioned copending application of which this application is a division.

The species of breaker illustrated in Figs. 5 to '7 of the drawings is adapted to be provided with an interrupting chamber like the interrupting chamber 42 of the species shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and it is also adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to a circuit breaker casing by a cover 8 adapted to clamp ears I35 on the mechanism supporting frame to the top wall at the open end of the casing. As shown in Fig. 5', the supporting frame for this circuit breaker in,- cludes a substantially rectangular upper supporting portion having a top wall I34, spacedintegral side walls I36 and a bottom wall I 38. Depending from this rectangular supporting portion are spaced supporting plates I40 adapted to be connected at their lower ends by an integral socket I4I for connection to an interrupting chamber like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The contact rod I42 in this embodiment of the invention is provided with stepped portions at the upper end thereof forming relatively stepped shoulders I44 and I46, for cooperation with a solenoid core I50, which, like core 94, is adapted to be slidably mounted in a cylindrical sleeve I56, to form a dashpot therewith, and have a hollow bore with a spring therein as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, so that the spring will engage shoulder I 44, and the core engage the shoulder I46, substantially in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment.

The upper end of contact rod I42 is adapted to be slidably mounted in a plug member I48 secured to upper frame member I64 for closing the-upper end of cylindrical sleeve I56 and a solenoid coil I52 is adapted to be supported in the' rectangular. supporting frame portion.

Depending supporting plates I48 are each provided with aligned spaced guide slots I53 and I 68 for'receiving a guide pin I62 fixed on solenoid core I58, and a guide pin I 64 fixed to contact rod.

I 42, respectively. These guide pins are adapted to extend through their respective slots, and through slots provided in a locking lever its mounted at the outer side of the adjacent supporting plate I48, intermediate the ends thereof on a pivot pin I63. Locking lever I55 is normally biased by a spring IIQ for movement in a clockwisedirection on its pivot pin. Locking lever I66 is also provided with the slots for receiving guide pins I52 and I 8 3, respectively, with the upper slot III for receiving pin I52 being flared outwardly in an upwardfldirection, and including an outer inclined end M2 for a purpose to be described. Slot I M is provided with an angularly extending-portion I76 normally adapted to receive guide pin I84 on contact rod I42, for preventing upward movement of the contact rod.

A pawl lever H8 is pivotally mounted at its lowerend on guide pin I54 and is biased by a spring I8:-I-towards a rack I238. The pawl lever I 78 is provided with apawl projection Ilii adjacent the upper end thereof extending laterally from the lever and supported from the lever by a portion having inclined-surfaces I88 and I82 adapted to be engaged by stationary cam pins I84 and I88, respectively. The'rack I88 is secured to the upper end of a piston I98, slidably mounted in a cylinder I92 supported on the supporting frame socket I4I'. A light coil compression spring I84 is adapted to be positioned in the bottom of cylin-,- der I92 for moving piston I98 to an extended position.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, upon the occurrence of an overload in the, circuit, solenoid coil I52 moves core I58 upwardly until guide pin I62 on the core hits the inclinedend ll"; of slot I'II inthe locking lever, therebycausing counter-clockwise rotation of'the lever about its pivot IE8; and releasing guide pin I84 on contact rcd M2 to permit the solenoid to movethe contact rod upwardly, aided, of course, by its. springwhich has been compressedby relative, movement of the solenoid core and contact rodand by pressure in the interrupter chamber. After. the circuit has been interrupted and the contactsare. reclosed,. preferably by a biasing means. substantially like'that shown in the first embodimentorthis. invention, as contact rod I42 moves downwardly, pawl projection I18 engages raclglta to move the same downwardly a predetermined distancewith the contact rod, which causes a time delay. in reclosure due to the necessity ofdisplacing liquid in the. bottom of the cylinder I22. past. they relatively small clearance between the, pistonland cylinder. Adjacent the endo? the closing operation, inclined surface- I32 on the pawl lever-will engage cam I85to cause the pawl lever to disengage rack. I88,- and allow the contacts. to he suddenly. closed. Ifthefaulthasclearedupon reclosure. of the contacts, rack I88.will.be raised .toits extended position asdetermined by pin. 55,. working-in slot I81 of the rack... However, if the fault has'not-cleared, the contactswill againbe opened inthe samemanner. as for the .firstinterruption, and this-time upon reclosure of the contacts, pawl lever I18 will, move rack I 88, and piston I98 downinto cylinder. I92.a,.further distance; into close proximity with the lower end of cylinder I92. If, after this second reclosure, the fault has cleared, rack. I88 will again be reset by spring I94. However, if the fault has not cleared, the breaker contacts will again be opened, and this time upon attempted reclosure thereof, pawl lever II8 will move rack I33 downwardly until the upper end of slot I 8'! engages fixed pin I85, thereby preventing further closing movement of the breaker contacts.

In order to reset the. breaker to normal-operating. condition it isnecessary to raise contact rod I :2. until. inclined surface I 88 on cam'lever I'IB'engages cam pin I84, to disen age pawl projection I "I9 from rack I88, to thereby permit the raclcto move upwardly, whereupon the contact.

rod I42 may be released, and the contacts reclosed as previously described.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 8, there is illustrated a supporting frame comprisingsnaced supporting plates I96 joined by intermediate spaced transversely extending frame portions Isl, I93 andZflIl, respectively. A

solenoid coil 282 is adapted to be supported on: ithe frame portion I91 between supporting plates I88. A contact rod 284 is secured to an enlarged rod'portion 288 at the upper end thereof, to form' a shoulder 2ii8adapted to be engaged by solenoid core 2I8. upon-upward movement thereof; The solenoid core 2I8 is slidably mounted on the rod, and is provided adjacent the lower end thereof with a notch ZIZ adapted to be engaged'by a;

latch 2M pivotally mounted on a time delay sleeve member 2I6, also slidably mounted'on contact rod 284. The latch 2M is preferably supported ona pivot 218 on time delay sleeve 2I5, and is biased formovementto engage in notch- 2I2 of the core, for example, as by a spring 228.

Between transverselv extending supporting plateportions I98 and 288, and also for a substantial distance below plate-288, there is provided a cylindrical wall portion integral with supporting plates IQEIto forma cvlindrical compartment 222 in which a time delay valve member 224 is adapted to 'work in a piston-like manner. Below supporting plate 288 a lock-out piston member 225* is adapted to operate. The time delay valve piston 2241s provided with passa es 228 thereth'rough'anda-valve plate 238 biased to a position toycloseofi passages 228, by a coil compression spring 232. The valve piston 224 is preferably fixedto time delay sleeve 2I6' for movement therewith. A check-.valve 234 is adapted to control an inlet passage 286 into a the lower portion of cylinder compartment 222.

Lockout piston 226 is annular in form,- and is provided with an inclined inner surface 238, for. cooperaticnwith a lookout lever 24!], normally biased by a coil tension sprin 242 to the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The particular mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8 is, of course, adapted to be employed with an interrupter similar tothe interrupter 42 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of thedrawings, and in conjunction with spring contact reclosing means also shown in thefirst described embodiment of this invention. In operation, when solenoid core 2 I8 is attracted upwardly by solenoid coil 202, time delay sleeve ZIG is carried along by virtue of the interconnection of latch 2I4 with core 2I8. This upward movement is therefore impeded to some extent by the necessity of liquid passing from the upper portion'of cylinder compartment-222 to the lower" portion: thereof, through restricted passages 28; and liquid maybe drawn into. the

lower portion of cylinder compartment 222' through restricted inlet passage 236. After predetermined movement of solenoid core 210, however, the outwardly extending projection N of latch lever 2l4 engages integral stop 2H on frame supporting plate I96, to release the solenoid core from the time delay sleeve 2i6. This permits the core to rise rapidly into engagement with shoulder 208 on the contact rod and separate the contacts.

It will be noted that the lower end of time delay sleeve H6 is notched as at 244, and carries a latch lever 246 adapted to engage beneath integral shoulder 248 on contact rod 204, when the contact is adjacent the upper limit of its movement. Latch lever 246 is normally biased in a direction to engage shoulder 248, by a spring 250. Therefore, upon attempted movement of contact rod 204 in a downward direction to reclose the breaker contacts, this motion is impeded by valve member 224 which now has the passages 22B therethrough closed off by valve 230, so that all of the liquid therebelow in chamher 222 must be displaced through the relatively small clearance between the valve piston and cylinder chamber wall. Accordingly, a time delay is interposed between the circuit interrupting operation and reclosure of the circuit breaker contacts, until extension 252 on latch lever 246 engages integral stop 254 on supporting plate I96, to disengage the latch from contact rod shoulder 248 to permit quick reclosure of the contacts.

It will be noted that in the circuit closing operation a certain amount of the liquid contained in the lower part of cylinder compartment 222 will be forced through passages 256 in transverse supporting wall 250, to force lockout piston 226 downwardly a predetermined distance. In the event of a continuing fault on the circuit, lockout piston 226 will be forced downwardly a predetermined distance by each successive reclosure of the breaker contacts, until finally the inclined surface 238 thereof engages lockout lever 246 to move it in a clockwise direction about its pivot 24!, into engagement with notch 244 on time delay sleeve 2l6, to thereby prevent movement of the same and contact rod 204 downwardly to a closed circuit position. Of course, if at any time before the predetermined number of reclosures of the breaker necessary to lock the contacts open, the fault clears, then lockout piston 226 will be slowly reset by coil spring 221 to its normal position shown in Fi 8.

It will be noted that in this embodiment of the invention, a single time delay means is provided for both giving inverse time current characteristics on a circuit interrupting operation, and for delaying reclosin of the breaker contacts after an interrupting operation, and that this time delay means has different characteristics for these two operations, respectively; that is, the valve member 224 presents greater resistance in downward movement in compartment 222 by virtue of closure of valve 236, than its resistance to upward movement in cylinder compartment 222, because on this latter movement valve 236 is opened as well as inlet check valve 234.

In the foregoing there have been described several embodiments of the present invention incorporated in automatic reclosing circuit breakers of the fluid type, which are adapted to automatically reclose the circuit a predetermined number of times, after which the breaker contacts are automatically locked in an open circuit position, such as to require a manual opera-- tion to restore the breaker to operative condition.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it is desired that the invention be not limited to the particular embodiments herein disclosed, inasmuch as it will be obvious, particularly to persons skilled in the art, that many modifications may be made in these particular embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a circuit interrupter, cooperatin contact means, at least one of which is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the other of said contact means, means having lost motion with said movable contact means for moving said movable contact away from the other of said contact means, means for locking said movable contact means in engagement with the other of said contact means including a looking lever biased to lock said movable contact means closed, said lever having a portion positioned to be engaged by said contact moving means after predetermined movement thereof in a direction to separate said contact means, time delay means, drive means movable with said movable contact means and biased to engage said time delay means, means permitting engagement of said drive means and time delay means adjacent the end of movement of said movable contact means away from said cooperating contact means, and means for disengaging said drive means and time delay means adjacent the end of contact closing movement of said movable contact means.

2. In a circuit interrupter, contact means mounted for movement into and out of engagement with cooperating contact means, means having lost motion with said movable contact means for moving said movable contact away from said cooperating contact means, means for locking said movable contact means in engagement with said cooperating contact means, said contact moving means adapted to release said locking means after predetermined movement thereof in a direction to separate said contact means, time delay means, drive means movable with said movable contact means and biased to engage said time delay means, means permitting engagement of said drive means and time delay means adjacent the end of movement of said movable contact means away from said cooperating contact means, and means for disenaging said drive means and time delay means adiacent the end of contact closing movement of said movable contact means.

3. In a circuit interrupter, contact means mounted for movement into and out of engagement with cooperating contact means, means having lost motion with said movable contact means for moving said movable contact away from said cooperating contact means, means for locking said movable contact means in engagement with said cooperating contact means, said contact moving means adapted to release said locking means after predetermined movement thereof in a direction to separate said contact means, time delay means controlling movement of said contact moving means, second time delay means, drive means movable with said movable contact means and biased to engage said second time delay means, means permitting engagement ofgsaidz drive means aand secondtimesdelaygmeans adjacent :the .end of movement off. saidlrmovable contact means away from saidi cooperating contact: means, and means afor'disengaging said drive means and second time delay means adjacent the enduof contact closing movement of said movable; contact means.

4. In a circuit interrupter, contact means mounted for movement into and out of engagement with cooperating contact means, means having-lostmotion with said movable contact means for moving said movablecontact-away from said cooperating contactmeans, timedelay means, means for releasably-couplingsaid time delaymeans solely tosaid con-tact moving means,

and means 'for releasing said coupling tact=moving meansand timede'lay -means,second means for releasably coupling said movable contact means and time delay means, means .for releasing said first coupling means in response to predetermined-movement, of said contact moving means in a direction to separate said con.- tact; and means forreleasingsaid second coupling means upon pr edetermined movement of said movable contactxmeans in a direction to engage said cooperating contactimeans.

6. In a circuit interrupter, contact means mounted for movement into and out'oi" e gage,- ment' wit c pe at n Contact means, .lmcans having lostmotion. with said movable .contact means tor causing movementof .said movable contact away from said cooperating, contact m ns, sin le t m d lay means, means. for, directly connecting said time. delay. means solely with said contact moving meansso thatsaid time delay meansis. operated in one way to control movement of said...contact.moving means upon movement thereof in a direction to open said contact means, and said time delay means is operated in another way to control reclosing movement of saidmovable contact means, and said" time delaymeans having means responsive to operation thereof in the aforesaiddifferent ways to provide; for differenttimedeiaying characteristics in the control otsaid two movements, respectively.

7; In a, circuit interrupter,.-contact means mounted .for movement into and out oiiengagement with cooperating contact means, means having. lost. motion with said. movable contact means for moving said movable" contact-away from saidcooperating contact means, time delay means-adapted to control movement of saidcontact moving means upon movement thereof in a direction .to open said movable contact: means, and adapted to control reclosi-ng movement of said movable contact means, means for disconnecting said contact moving means from said time delay means after predetermined movement of said contact moving means in a direction to separate said contact means, and means for disconnecting said movable contact means and time delay means in response to predetermined movement of movable contact means towards said cooperating contact means.

214 .8. In. a: circuit interrupter; contact means mounted for movement into andcouti of engage- .ment. with cooperating. contact.:means, .means having "lost .motion; with said .movable contact means 'for .moving'said movable .rcontact away from-said cooperating'contactzmeans, time delay means independent... of any electrical condition 'of-the' circuit associated with said contact movingzmeans for delaying movement thcreof,psec- .ondwtime delay means, drive means movable with said movable contact-means.andabiasedto engage said second time :delay: means, means permitting 'engagementof said;drive means-andsecond time delay means adjacent the end .of movementof saidmovable contact means. away from said 'cooperating contact-means, and means for dis engaging-said drive means zandjisecond'time delay means adjacent 1 the .end of. contact closing .move- .ment of saidv movable contact means.

9. In a. circuit interrupter, contact means mounted. for movement into and out or engagement with cooperating contact means, means having lost-motion with said movable contact meansvfor causing. movement of said: movable contact away from said cooperating contact means, time delay means, means for directly connecting saidtime delay means solely with said means for causing contact movement at during a circuit closing operation thereof for delaying closing movement.

'10. In a circuit interrupter, contact means mounted for movement into and out of' engagement with cooperating contact means, means having lost motion with said movable contact means for moving said movable contact away from'saidcooperating'contact means, time delay means adapted to control movement of said contact moving means" upon movement thereof in a direction to opensaidmovable contact means, and adapted to control reclosing movement of said-movable contact means, means for rendering said time delay means inoperative to delay movement of said' contact moving means in a direction to'open said. movable contact means after predetermined"movement of said contact moving means in a direction to separate said contact means, and. meansfor rendering said time delay'means. inoperative to. delay closing movement of said movable contact means in response to predetermined movement of movable contact'means towards said cooperating contact means,

11. In a circuit. interrupter, contact means mounted for movement into and out of engagement with cooperating contact means, means having lost motion with said movable contact means for moving *said movable contact away from :said cooperating 'contact rmeans, time delay means: independent of any electrical condition of 1the'circuit,imeans for directly connecting said time delay means solely with said contact movingmeans so as to control movement of said contact moving means upon movement thereof in a direction to open said contact means, and to control reclosing movement of said movable contact means, and means for rendering said time delay means inefiective to delay closing movement of said movable contact means in response to predetermined movement of said movable contact means towards said cooperating contact means.

12. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to predetermined electrical conditions including a part having lost motion with respect to said contacts for causing separation of said contacts, said contacts being biased into engagement to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, and a single time delay means, means for mechanically connecting said time delay' means with part of the breaker so that said time delay means is operated in one way for delaying opening movement of said contacts for a predetermined time after the occurrence of to operation thereof in said other way for changing the time characteristic thereof. 13. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to predetermined electrical conditions for causing separation of said contacts and having lost motion relative to said contacts, said contacts being biased into engagement to automatically reclose after a circuit interrupting operation, and time delay means independent of any electrical condition of the circuit, means to mechanically connect said time delay means solely with said condition responsive means during a circuit opening operation for delaying opening movement of said contacts for a predetermined time after the occurrence of said predetermined conditions, a second time delay means, and means to mechanically connect said second time delay means with said contacts for delaying reclosure of said contacts for a predetermined time after a circuit interrupting operation.

14. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to predetermined electrical conditions for causing separation of said contacts and having lost motion relative to said contacts, said contacts being biased into engagement to automatically reclose after a circuit interrupting operation, and time delay means releasably mechanically connected with said condition responsive means during only an initial part of the relative movement of said condition responsive means, means for disconnecting said time delay means and condition responsive means at the end of said part of relative movement, whereby said time delay means is effective to delay separation of said contacts a predetermined time after the occurrence of said predetermined conditions after which said contacts are separated at a relatively rapid rate.

15. In a circuit interrupter, a movable contact actuating rod, a contact actuable by movement of said rod into and out of engagement with a cooperating contact, fluid dashpot means having a movable member slidably mounted on said rod, spaced means limiting relative sliding movement of said member on said rod, actuating means operative to move said member in one direction, said member biased to move in the opposite direction to one limit of its relative 16 sliding movement onsaid rod, and said dashpot means having means for rendering said dashpot means ineffective to delay movement of said actuating means in response to predetermined relative sliding movement of said member on said rod, whereby said contact is rapidly moved away from said cooperating contact only a predetermined time after said actuating means is energized.

'16. In a circuit interrupter, a movable contact actuating rod, a contact actuable by movement of said rod into and out of engagement with a cooperating contact, fluid dashpot means having a tubular piston member slidably mounted on said rod and a relatively stationary dashpot cylinder receiving said piston member, spaced means limiting relative sliding movement of said member on said rod, actuating means operative to move said member in one direction, said member biased to move in the opposite direction to one limit of its relative sliding movement on said rod, and said dashpot means having means for rendering said dashpot means ineffective to delay movement of said actuating means in response to predetermined relative sliding movement of said member on said rod, whereby said contact is rapidly moved away from said coopcrating contact only a predetermined time after said actuating means is energized.

17. In a circuit interrupter, contact means mounted for movement into and out of engagement with cooperating contact means, means having lost motion with said movable contact means for causing movement of said movable contact away from said cooperating contact means, single time delay means, means for directly connecting said time delay means solely with said contact moving means so as to control movement of said contact moving means upon movement thereof in a direction to open said contact opening means, and to control reclosing movement of said movable contact means, and said time delay means having means responsive to the direction of movement of said contact moving means to vary the resistance to the aforesaid movements depending on the direction thereof.

JAMES M. WALLACE. HERBERT L. RAWLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

